11. Epilogue
Epilogue
Gage
THREE MONTHS LATER
The early spring frost bites at my bare feet as I step onto the porch, coffee mug warming my hands. Three months since Eden chose to stay, and I still wake up every morning wondering if I dreamed her.
But there she is, crouched in the snow at the edge of our clearing, camera raised to her face.
Our clearing. Our home.
The thought still knocks me sideways.
"Come on," she whispers to the young buck watching her from the tree line. "Just one more step, handsome."
I lean against the porch railing, watching her work and sipping my coffee. She's wearing my flannel over her thermal, hair pulled into a messy bun that's coming undone in the wind. Snowflakes catch in the loose strands.
The deer takes a tentative step forward, and Eden's laugh carries across the clearing. Pure joy. The sound still makes my heart jolt awake better than any caffeine hit.
"That's it," she coaxes. "Nobody's going to hurt you."
The shutter clicks rapidly as the buck dips his head to sniff at the ground. Eden's latest series—"Wilderness Portraits," she calls it—has been selling like crazy online.
People can't get enough of the way she captures these mountains. The way she sees beauty in things most people would overlook.
The way she saw beauty in me.
I take a sip of coffee, remembering the day I installed that monstrosity of a satellite dish on our roof. " Looks like a fucking spaceship landed on my cabin ," I'd grumbled, but Eden had just kissed me senseless, excited about the high-speed connection that would let her work from home.
Not just financial consulting for her remote clients—work she does on her terms now, not her mother's—but her photography business too. Both growing steadily, both making her eyes light up in a way that fills my chest with a pride I can barely contain.
I watch Eden work, thinking about how easily we've fallen into this life together.
The routine is simple but perfect—I handle the physical labor, tending to our expanded vegetable garden that now includes Eden's requested herbs and flowers.
My days revolve around chopping wood, maintaining the cabin, hunting when needed, and cooking meals that make Eden's eyes light up.
She jokes that I'm turning into a gourmet chef, but really I just love watching her savor every bite.
While I keep our home running, Eden splits her time between her consulting work and photography, transforming our spare room into a home office that somehow manages to be both professional and cozy.
The pride I feel watching her succeed, watching her build something that's entirely her own while still choosing to share this life with me—it's unlike anything I've ever known.
The deer finally notices me and bolts back into the forest. Eden turns, camera lowering, and catches me watching her.
"Were you scaring away my models again?" she calls, rising to her feet.
"Just admiring the view," I answer, not meaning the mountains or the deer.
She trudges through the snow toward me, cheeks flushed with cold and happiness. I've never seen anything more beautiful in my life.
"Got some good ones," she says, climbing the porch steps. "That buck's been getting braver every day."
I set my coffee down and pull her against me, snow and all. "So have you."
Eden melts against my chest, her camera carefully held to the side.
"You're thinking awfully hard about something," she murmurs, tilting her face up to mine.
I brush snowflakes from her cheek. "Just can't believe you're really here sometimes."
"Where else would I be?" Her free hand slides under my jacket, finding warm skin.
"Anywhere. Everywhere." I capture her wandering fingers. "You could've chosen any life, sunshine. But you picked this. Picked me."
She sets her camera on the porch rail and presses closer. "Best decision I ever made."
My grip tightens on her hips. Three months, and still the slightest touch from her sets me on fire. That primal need to claim her, mark her, make her mine all over again burns through my veins.
"You still drive me crazy, you know that, right?" I drag my lips down her neck, tasting snow and skin. "Every single day, it gets worse."
"Worse?" She arches into me.
"Fuck, Eden." I pin her against the railing. "When I'm inside you, when you're coming apart around me..." My voice drops to a growl. "All I can think about is filling you up. Watching you grow round with my baby."
She gasps, fingers digging into my shoulders.
"It's all I fucking think about now." I bite down on her pulse point. "Seeing you heavy with my child. Knowing I put it there."
Her breath catches. "Gage..."
"Tell me you don't want it too." I slide my hand under her flannel, finding tight nipples that roll too easily between my fingers. "Tell me you haven't thought about it."
I lift her onto the railing, spreading her thighs wide. Her flannel rides up, revealing the soft skin of her bare thighs. My palms glide over them, fingers teasing the edges of her panties.
"Already so wet for me," I growl, feeling the dampness seeping through the thin fabric. I push them aside, my thumb stroking over her clit.
"Gage," she gasps, hips jerking forward, seeking more.
"I know, baby." I sink to my knees, positioning myself between her legs. "Gotta taste you first."
Her scent drives me wild as I press my mouth against her core. I lick, suck, and fuck her with my tongue like a starving man. Every moan and gasp she makes fuels my hunger and I know I'll never have enough of her.
“That’s it, sunshine. Let me hear how good I make this pussy feel.”
She writhes under my touch, hands gripping the railing for support. My tongue delves deeper, flicking and swirling until she's a trembling mess above me.
When she's about to come, I pull back, licking my lips as I watch her whimper in frustration.
"Not yet," I murmur. "Need you coming on my cock first."
I scoop Eden into my arms, her legs wrapping around my waist as I carry her to the couch. Her heat seeps through my jeans, my thick cock already leaking against her stomach.
I settle her in my lap, positioning her so she straddles me.
Her breath hitches when I grip her hips, guiding her to hover above me. My cock strains upward, desperate to be inside her. I line myself up, teasing her entrance with the tip. Her slickness coats me, making it almost impossible to hold back.
"You ready to take me, baby?" My voice is rough, barely controlled.
She nods frantically, body already trembling with need. "Yes, Gage—please."
I smirk, leaning closer until my lips brush against her ear. "Not just me, Eden." My voice drops lower, filthier. "You're gonna take every fucking drop I give you. Gonna keep me inside you till it takes."
Her eyes widen with desire and something deeper. She belongs to me, and I'll make sure she knows it.
Slowly, I push inside her, feeling her stretch around me. Her nails dig into my shoulders as she gasps at the intrusion. I grit my teeth against the urge to thrust hard and fast. This moment is about her, something I never forget.
"That's it," I murmur against her neck. "Take all of me."
She whimpers, hips rocking as she tries to take more of me inside. "Gage..."
"Shh," I soothe, guiding her movements until she's fully seated on my cock. The sensation of being buried deep within her nearly undoes me.
Eden's breath comes in ragged pants. Her hands slide down to grip my biceps for support.
"Oh God," she moans. "Yes… fuck, yes."
I cup her face with one hand, forcing her to meet my gaze.
"Mine," I growl before capturing her lips in a fierce kiss.
She melts into me, surrendering completely as we move together in a rhythm that speaks of ownership and need.
My hands grip her hips, guiding her up and down on my cock. The sight of her taking me, her body straining to accommodate every inch, makes my control slip.
“Gonna make you so fucking full, sunshine. Gonna put my baby inside you.”
She moans louder, her nails digging into my shoulders. The sound drives me insane.
“You want that?” I rasp, my voice strained with need. “Want me to fill this little pussy up, watch you swell with my baby?”
“Yes—yes, Gage,” she sobs, her orgasm already rushing in.
I fuck her through it, growling praises into her ear. “That’s my girl. Come for me, baby. Milk my cock—take it all.”
Then I lose control.
“Fuck, Eden—” My thrusts get rougher, sloppier, until I slam deep and still.
Hot, thick spurts of my cum flood her. I groan, grinding my hips, filling her as deep as I can.
Eden collapses against me, still breathing hard. Her chest heaves, pressing against mine with each gasp. I keep her close, feeling the tremors in her body gradually subside.
I stroke her hair, letting my fingers glide through the soft strands. Her golden-blonde waves are a tangled mess now, but to me, she’s never looked more beautiful.
I press lazy kisses against her temple, savoring the warmth and scent of her.
“Told you, baby. You’re mine forever.” My voice is rough with lingering desire and absolute certainty.
She smiles sleepily, nuzzling my chest. “Guess I don’t have a choice now.”
A smirk tugs at my lips as I palm her lower belly. “Damn right you don’t.”
I press my hand over her belly, grinning possessively. The thought of her carrying my child makes my chest swell with pride.
“Think I put a baby in you yet, sunshine?”
She laughs, biting her lip in that way that drives me wild. But then she hesitates. Just for a second. It’s subtle, but I catch it.
My eyes narrow. “Eden…”
Her gaze flickers up to meet mine, and the teasing smile turns soft. Knowing.
“Guess we’ll have to wait and see.”
I growl, flipping her onto her back, already ready for round two. “Well then… I'm not taking any chances, baby. We’re making damn sure.”
"Gage!" Eden squeals, laughing as I split her legs and line myself up. She shakes her head and smiles up at me. "God, I love you."
I grin, pressing a kiss to her lips. "I love you too, sunshine. So damn much."
- THE END -
Did you enjoy this spicy mountain man book?
Did you know I have an entire series of grumpy mountain men?
You can find them all RIGHT HERE.